SOUTHERN GOSPEL

Bill Gaither

Gaither Music Company

CBN.com
 The résumé of Bill Gaither is not a quick read. There was the founding of his first group, the Bill
Gaither Trio, in 1956, while Bill was a college student. There was his first job as a high school
English teacher in 1959. There was marriage to teaching colleague, and eventually his songwriting
partner, Gloria Sickal, in 1962. And there were the years of juggling teaching,writing, singing,
recording and publishing, before the music demanded the couple’s full-time attention in 1967.

Then begins the longest page of the résumé: the publishing of more than 600 songs including
hymnal standards such as “Because He Lives,” “The King Is Coming,” “Something Beautiful,” “He
Touched Me,” “It Is Finished,” “There’s Something About That Name” and “Let’s Just Praise The
Lord”; recording of more than 40 albums; winning of five Grammy Awards and more than a dozen
Grammy nominations plus more than two dozen Dove Awards and nominations and numerous
other industry awards; earning the title of Gospel Music Association’s “Songwriter of the Year” eight
times; and producing the first inspirational album to achieve gold status,Alleluia: A Praise
Gathering for Believers. In end-of-the-millennium honors, Bill and Gloria received the surprise of
their lives when ASCAP named them Christian Songwriters of the Century for their music’s impact
on American culture in the 20th century. Meanwhile, “He Touched Me” was listed by the
Indianapolis Star as one of the Top 10 Songs of the Century written by a Hoosier.

And then another page: the producing of scores of videos that document the musical homecomings
of the legends of southern gospel; recognition of gold, platinum or multi-platinum status
by the Recording Industry Association of America on 78 of the videos; the placing of a dozen
videos at number 1 on Billboard magazine’s video sales charts; and a following of 75 million
viewers who watch The Gaither Gospel Hour and the Gaither Family Music Hour on PAX-TV, PBS,
TBN, FamilyNet, Daystar,Vision, Crossroads, GMTN and the Inspirational Network.

And yet another page: the founding of Gaither Music Company in Alexandria, Ind., which
includes a record company, concert booking, television production, copyright management, retail
store, recording studio and telemarketing department.Not to mention being named one of
Entrepreneur magazine’s 75 top entrepreneurs in 1997.

But read between the lines of the résumé, and you’ll find an artist who’s also dedicated to the
success of others. Just ask Mark Lowry, Sandi Patty, Carman, Steve Green, Don Francisco, Michael
English, Jonathan Pierce and Cynthia Clawson, all of whom received career boosts while traveling
with the Gaithers.Ask Homecoming artists whose careers were re-energized when Bill Gaither
began videotaping the Homecoming series in 1991. (Music critics credit Bill with reviving a declining
genre of music.) Ask families who attend annual events such as Praise Gathering, Jubilaté and
Family Fest in the Smokies.And ask the families of southern gospel artists who receive assistance
from the Gospel Music Trust Fund, a fund to which the Gaithers have given major support.

Bill Gaither says he likes to create a “win-win” situation.“I like drawing a wide circle and bringing
everyone in,” he says.“And I truly enjoy helping other people win.”

Although Bill has traversed the globe for four decades singing the Gospel, he’s never really left
home. He lives just miles from the farm in Alexandria, Ind.,where he grew up and dreamed of
someday being a gospel music singer. The fruition of that dream, Gaither Music Company, is just a
stone’s throw away from his house. And son Benjamin and daughters Amy and Suzanne, along
with their families, are all just a convenient drive away when Bill and Gloria call for a Gaither get
together.

Getting home and staying in touch with the extended family are priorities for Bill.He also
makes time to meet regularly with a group of local men who are dedicated to an ongoing intellectual
and spiritual dialogue. Books by William Bennett, C.S. Lewis and Oswald Chambers top his list
of favorite reads.And Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Wagner top his list of listening favorites…after
the GVB, of course.